If women are growing among Italian graduates (76.8 per thousand versus 40.9 men per thousand in 2021), in STEM disciplines gender differences continue to remain evident with a picture that places Italy still behind the European average . The data are contained in the latest ‘Bes 2023 Report’ by Istat, and will be presented together with the data on Stem disciplines on the stage of the Stem Women Congress, at the Base in Milan on 28 May, they constitute fertile ground on which to engage the debate around stereotypes of gender that still exist in the scientific world.
While the report presents a generally positive picture, with a significant improvement in the percentage of young people choosing courses of study in scientific subjects – 17.8 young people per thousand between the ages of 20 and 29, compared to 16.5 in 2020 and 16, 1 in 2019 – gender differences in educational choices persist. In the European Union as a whole (EU27), in 2021 approximately 4 million and 300 thousand people obtained a university degree, of which 459 thousand in Italy, with an increase of 65 thousand people compared to 2020).
However, while 86 young people per thousand in the 20-29 age group in the EU27 obtain a tertiary qualification, in Italy this value stands at 76.4 per thousand. If we go into the details of STEM disciplines, 18.3 young people out of every thousand in Italy obtain a degree, compared to 58.1 out of every thousand who obtain a qualification in non-STEM disciplines, with marked gender differences. In fact, for every 1000 girls aged between 20 and 29 in our country, only 14.3 complete their studies in scientific and technological courses, compared to 21 boys.
Data that highlights the need and urgency of initiatives aimed at encouraging the increase of “female quotas” in scientific disciplines, promoting gender equity that can help eliminate any barrier that may prevent full educational and professional achievement in these areas.
“The photograph presented by Istat requires a moment of reflection: the time has come to initiate concrete proposals to overcome gender stereotypes in scientific disciplines and build a future in which men and women have equal opportunities to contribute to the technological and scientific development of our Village. In this direction, the Stem women congress represents a crucial opportunity, a megaphone to reach as many people as possible”, comments Laura Basili, president of the Stem women congress and co-founder of Women at Business together with Ilaria Cecchini.
And it is precisely with these objectives that on May 28th there will be alternating interventions by institutions, companies and the inspiring voices of women who have pursued their dreams, but also concrete projects and opportunities brought to the working tables by communities of women as well as discussions of career between some of the companies present and the girls during the “speed dates”. The entire program and registration form is available here: https://www.womenatbusiness.com/stem.php
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